Freak

Author's Note- This is a poem I wrote as part of my goal for Language Arts (to write 2-3 poems [all different types] and a short fictional piece based off the same theme.  The theme I chose was judging someone by their cover.  Comments are appreciated!

See that girl…

Sitting all alone.

Hair unwashed,

Greasy,

Tangled.

Putrid breath,

Tired eyes.

She keeps her head down

As she roams the halls.

Freak, they call her.

Ugly

Little

Freak.

"What a mess," they say.

You go along with them.

"Does she own a brush

For her hair or teeth?"  they say.

You agree.

They 'accidentally' shove her at the lockers.

You laugh.

What they don't know

Is that she gets enough of that at home.

See that bruise on her wrist?

Klutz, you think.

She probably banged it on something, you think.

She got that from her father.

And the one on her stomach.

And the claw marks on her back.

He's the reason she wears long sleeves.

She reads a book at lunchtime.

She doesn't eat.

Anorexic nut job, you think.

But you don't know

That she's making sure

There's enough in the account

For her little brother to have lunch.

Teacher calls on her.

She doesn't know the answer.

Stupid, you think.

But you don't know

She's too busy worrying about

Where she'll get her next meal

To study.

They don’t know her.

You don't know her.

So why do you judge?

Why do you make fun?

Why do you think this is okay?

You don’t know

That she's a great person.

You don't bother to find out.

Because you see she's ugly

On the outside,

You assume she's the same

On the inside.

You treat her like dirt,

Like scum.

Because she's different.

Because of her appearance. 

But if you keep treating her that way,

Then she's a better person

Than you'll ever be.